Introduction Teaching concepts changed rapidly during the COVID19 pandemic. Online lessons became
the mainstay of teaching in medical schools. Even practical skills were taught in
online-only courses in many medical schools. In this project, teaching of basic examination
skills of the head and neck considered as relevant for general practitioners took
place in an online course. The aim of the course was to evaluate the performance of
students without prior experience in head and neck examination after completion of
the course.
Methods 54 students underwent an objective standardized examination of skills comprising
5 different examination items after completing the online course. Theoretical knowledge,
practical performance and self-evaluation were measured using Likert-scales.
Results On average, students without previous experience in head and neck examination achieved
good to moderate skill levels. Evaluation of theoretical knowledge was significantly
better than practical skills. Students who considered their online course preparation
as particularly meticulous, achieved significantly better results. High concordance
between self-evaluation of practical skills and expert-evaluation was observed. In
case of misjudgment, students mainly underestimated their own skills.
Conclusion Online courses can significantly contribute to teaching of basic examination skills
of the head and neck. Good to moderate skill levels with little interindividual differences
can be achieved. However, practical training remains mandatory for in-depth teaching
of practical skills.
